Source: Associated Press in Ramallah via The Guardian
Credits: Uncredited
Dated: 2011-01-27

[ Emilie says : I find it very difficult to imagine any way in which the PLO/PNA, Erekat or Abbas are ever going to be able to recover any credibility, let alone popularity, amongst any Palestinians, except perhaps amongst their own families and a few thousand die-hard supporters and Israeli quislings (If I am not repeating myself). Given that the US has, for years, unambiguously sided against Hamas, the only significant Palestinian organization left with any credibility, this has effectively sidelined the US in further dealings. Attempting to figure out how the incompetence or perfidy of the PLO/PNA was exposed will avail not one whit at this point. A rational stance would be to engage with Hamas because history teaches us that should Hamas be ineffective in achieving a future for the Palestinians, another, more brutal organization or organizations will replace it. ]

Palestine papers: Erekat asks US, UK and France for help to find leaker

Senior Palestinian negotiator says he wants ex-British spy, US journalist and French national to appear before inquiry

Effigies with Israeli flags and images of Mahmoud Abbas are burned in a Hamas-led protest in Gaza. Photocredits: Eyad Baba/AP

A senior Palestinian official today said he has asked the US, Britain and France to help bring three of their nationals for questioning about the huge leak of confidential documents relating to peace talks in the Middle East.

Chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said the three include a former British intelligence officer, a US employee of al-Jazeera TV and a French citizen. He said he is not accusing them of wrongdoing, but would like them to appear before an investigative committee.

Al-Jazeera this week published excerpts from what it said is a cache of hundreds of documents covering a decade of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. The Qatar-based Arab satellite station, widely watched in the Arab world, alleges that the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, secretly made major concessions to Israel.

Abbas and his aides say they are victims of a smear campaign.

The leaks have intensified the bitter rivalry between Abbas and Hamas, the Islamic militant group which wrested the Gaza Strip from the Palestinian president in a violent takeover in 2007.

Yesterday, thousands marched in Gaza in Hamas-led protests, accusing Abbas of being a traitor and burning him in effigy.

Today, hundreds rallied in Gaza City, burning a photo of Abbas and raising a large picture of al-Jazeera's benefactor, the emir of Qatar.

Salah Bardawil, a Hamas legislator, told the crowd that "those traitors and anyone who is thinking of compromising any of our rights" should be put on trial.

In the West Bank, several thousand Fatah supporters chanted slogans against al-Jazeera and in support of Abbas. They also burned photos of two senior Hamas leaders.

Erekat, who frequently meets with Israeli and US officials, features in many of the documents. Palestinian officials have said they believe the documents were leaked by someone in a department he heads, the negotiations support unit.

Erekat told the Associated Press today that the investigation into the leaks is still continuing.

Erekat said he has tried to contact the US citizen, but to no avail. "I am not accusing him of anything. We want to investigate him," he said, adding that he had contacted US diplomats for assistance.

Al-Jazeera officials have been unavailable for comment throughout the week. The French national declined comment when contacted by AP, and the former British intelligence officer said he might discuss the issue at a later time.

Many of the leaked documents detail 2008 negotiations between Abbas and Israel's leader at the time, Ehud Olmert. Those talks were cut short by Israel's three-week war on Hamas-ruled Gaza, launched in late 2008, and mounting corruption allegations against Olmert that eventually forced him out of office.